Point guard competition between Damian Lillard and Nolan Smith poised to heat up in Vegas

View full sizeRoss William Hamilton, The OregonianThe Trail Blazers began practice Wednesday for NBA Summer League in Las Vegas where they will play five games beginning Sunday. Damian Lillard (left) Meyers Leonard and Jon Diebler (33) were among those working out at the Tualatin practice facility.

In recent years, Trail Blazers fans have grown accustomed to an annual dose of point guard competition in summer league, and 2012 is no different.

Of all the subplots surrounding this year's summer league team, perhaps no story line offers as much intrigue as the battle at point guard, where Damian Lillard and Nolan Smith will begin building their cases to be the team's starter next season.

"The position is obviously on the line," Lillard said Wednesday after the Blazers concluded their first summer league practice. "I'm going to compete. He's going to compete and we'll see how it plays out. Right now we're just worried about winning games in the summer league and trying to build that relationship."

The Blazers have all but handed the keys of the team to Lillard, the sixth overall pick of last month's NBA Draft whom general manager Neil Olshey has dubbed the "franchise point guard." He's the front runner to start from Day 1 next season. But Smith, who started three of the final four games last season, is not conceding anything.

"My mind-set going in is just for us to push each other and get each other better," Smith said. "Obviously we're on the same team, so that's the first thing. But when it comes down to it, we're going to compete against each other and look to run the team. Obviously, whoever does the best job of doing that, who hits shots, who plays defense -- who plays the best basketball -- is going to be The Guy when it's time to make the decision."

Both players will be given ample opportunities to make their case. Coach Kaleb Canales said he will start both -- Lillard at point guard and Smith at shooting guard -- and they will split time running the team. Canales plans to run a free-flowing offense, with an emphasis on running, and Lillard and Smith will have the green light to lead the team at all times.

Both players have the ability to play off the ball, but both will be scrutinized by how they play with it.

Lillard is determined to live up to the hype and expectations that come with being a high lottery pick and there's a part of him that remains determined to prove he belongs in the NBA after playing at unheralded Weber State. All eyes will be focused on his ability to involve teammates and lead after a junior season in which he ranked second in the nation in scoring but averaged just 4.0 assists per game.

The 6-foot-3 playmaker earned praise from teammates Wednesday after his first NBA workout for his long-range shooting, ability to create his own shot and lead. Center Meyers Leonard called him "the total package" and Smith praised his knack for making "winning plays."

"He can play," Smith said of Lillard. "He can definitely shoot the ball -- I mean, shoot the lights out, for real. He's very aggressive; got into the paint really well. And he's just all-around solid on offense. He can go. He makes a lot of winning plays, which is good to see."

After last season's dreadful Blazers season, Smith is merely looking for a fresh start. He changed the mechanics of his jump shot this offseason and is determined to become a better distributor and leader. Smith had an erratic and disappointing rookie season, but he prefers to focus on the final month, when trades and a youth movement created extended playing time. Over the final five games, he averaged 12.8 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game and shot 42 percent from the field.

This year's point guard battle will be unlike those in recent seasons. Mills and Johnson were fighting for roster spots. Koponen was fighting for an NBA contract. Bayless was fighting to prove he could actually play the position.

Smith and Lillard are both part of the Blazers' long-term plans and likely will be part of the rotation next season. Even so, the next 10 days could reveal who has the leg up on the starting spot when NBA training camp opens in October.

"Right now I'm just trying to build a relationship with Nolan," Lillard said. "We'll be teammates at the end of the day and the goal is to win games.

"I think it's important that we know each other and we're comfortable with each other. But when you're on the floor, you're on the floor. There are no friends on the floor, you're competing. We both want the same thing, same position. We've got to compete."

Notes: Rookie guard Will Barton missed the first summer league practice because of a personal matter but is expected to join the team Thursday. ... Wesley Matthews will not join summer league practices until Friday and is planning to play in two games in Las Vegas. ... Shooting guard Elliot Williams, who is recuperating from shoulder surgery, will participate in all portions of summer league workouts that do not involve scrimmaging and "live contact" and will not play in any games. Williams will travel with the team to Las Vegas. ... Canales is holding two-a-day practices the first three days of summer league camp and the team will have seven workouts before leaving for Las Vegas on Saturday.